Its a little dance we in this industry know all to well., credit card processing is an issue. Its convenient and we all love them. But there is a catch, for us anyway. You see the federal government still classifies our beloved as a Schedule I Controlled Substance having no medical applications. Load of you know what right? Right. We know that's wrong, literally everyone involved knows its wrong but yet financial institutions are bound by rules put there for good reason because...money! We have some power here if we choose to use it, Votes. I know the electoral college and whatever but Representative Mark DeSaulnier (202) 225-2095 (Washington DC Office) is very interested in how his constituents feel about these matters. His office in Walnut Creek is located at 3100 Oak Road Suite 110 Walnut Creek, CA 94597 and can be reached by phone at (925) 933-2660, drop by and tell him you'dlike to see legislation to reclassify brought to the floor and if one shows up, you'd like for him to back it. Democracy!

Disasters bring out the best and worst of humanity. I have been blow away by the capeless hero's in the Lone Star state. Miles of good ole boys saddling up their ATV's, RV's and boats to race towards what everyone else was running away from! That is inspiring! That is American. We shine in the face of adversity.

Where there is good there is evil and diversion of good faith donations happens every time there is a disaster. It seems the era of information has given us all homework to do. We did't go with The American Red Cross because only 3% of the donations go towards the cause to support their massive corporate structure.

The Humane Society is always a good bet, chronically under funded and forgotten when disaster strikes. Local food banks are also a good choice because they are staffed by members of the community and usually connected to the most vulnerable already.

That's how we chose to donate, a little common sense coupled with a desire to really help those who need it.